Knitting machinery



March 14, 1933. R. REINER KNITTING MACHINERY Filed May 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l a N W INVENTOR March 14, 1933. R REINER 1,901,857

KNITTING MACHINERY Filed May 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H u 2 J J W M XNVENTOR Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES tee-ins"? ROBERT REINER', OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KNITTING MACHINERY Application filed May 6, 1931'.

The invention relates to improvements in knitting machines of the flat or straight-bar type and on which full fashioned hose are manufactured. The subject matter of the present invention has to do particularly with a switch operating mechanism.

During certain operations in the knitting of a web or blank for full fashioned hose, such for instance, as the narrowing operation, it is necesssary that the machine be slowed down. In ordinary practice, as far as applicant is aware, this is accomplished by a button on the narrowing jack or chain contacting with a lever which in turn is connected by a rod or link directly to a special switch which, when operated or thrown, slows down the motor driving the knitting machine.

Considerable ditliculty is encountered with this arrangement in that it is almost impossible to accurately time the throwing of the switch. Invariably the circuit is broken too early and the working speed of the last loop is considerably slowed down. Likewise, when the switch is operated to throw the machine back to high speed, the present mechanism causes it to operate too soon and part of the narrowing operation'and shifting of the cam shaft is done at top speed. This is quite apt to cause an imperfection in the stocking being knit and also results in undue wear and tear on the mechanism of the knitting machine and causes excessive noise during the operation of the machine.

In accordance with the present invention, a special switch operating mechanism has been devised and the switch mechanism is operated from a cam on the cam shaft of the knitting machine. A button on the narrowing jack or chain through suitable connections positions the switch mechanism but its actual physical operation is controlled by the cam. By properly positioning and shaping the cam, the throwing of the switch may be timed in an absolutely accurate manner.

Serial No. 585,457.

This arrangement insures the controlling of the speed of the machine in such amanner that the advancing or shifting of the cam shaft for narrowing must take place after the switch has been thrown and the speed slowed up and it is also the case that the cam shaft is moved back before the machine again assumes speed.

Another advantage accruing from moving the cam shaft longitudinally when at low speed is the proper positioning of the draw cam so as to cause the draw muff to be put into action or be withdrawn without knocking and in a much smoother manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming a part there of and in which a preferred embodiment of the machine is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, intermediate parts being broken away for economy of space;

Figure 2 is an end elevation, the cam shaft being in section, taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View taken on line H of Figure 2-.

It is to be understood that for the sake of simplicity in the drawings only those parts of the knitting machine directly appertaining to the invention are illustrated. It is to be further understood that the invention is applicable to any known or standard type of flat knitting machine, on which full fashioned hose is made.

Referring again to said drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates a fragmentary portion of the frame of a flat knitting machine. Mounted on and suitably secured to the frame is a supporting plate 6 having an upstanding ear 7. This upstanding ear 7 forms a bearing or support for a stud 8. The stud 8 may be secured in the ear by the set screw 8 or if desired it may be freely mounted in the ear, other means being provided to prevent longitudinal movement. The stud 8 carries the switch operating mechanism 9.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the switch operating mechanism comprises two members, a. cam roller lever 10, and a three-armed lever 11. The cam-roller lever 10 is freely mounted on the stud 8 and takes the form of a bell crank lever, the longer arm 12 carrying the cam roller 13 and having an abutment face 14: intermediate the cam roller 13 and stud 8. The shorter arm 15 of the cam roller lever has a spring 16 secured to its outer end, the other end of the spring being fast to a lug 17 on the supporting plate 6. The spring 16 maintains the cam roller 13 in engagement with a cam 18 or a disc 19 both of which are hereinafter described. Obviously, the shorter arm 15 might be eliminated and the spring 16 secured to the arm 12 and any other fixed part of the machine.

The three-armed lever 11 is likewise freely mounted on the stud 8. This lever has a laterally extending arm 20, an upwardly extending arm 21 and a depending arm 22. A plate 23 is secured to the end of the stud 8 by a screw 24: and confines the cam roller lever and three-armed lever, preventing longitudinal movement on the stud 8.

The laterally extending arm 20 of the three-armed lever engages a switch lever 25 of a switch 26 suitably secured to the supporting plate 6. This switch is connected to the driving motor of the machine and when it is thrown it slows the motor down so as to drive the machine at the reduced speed necessary for performing the narrowing plperations in the knitting of full fashioned ose.

The upwardly extending arm 21 lies adjacent the long arm 12 of the cam roller lever and pivoted at 27 on thearm 21 is a swinging abutment member 28. The swinging abutment member 28 is normally held in its retracted position (the full line position of Figure 1) by a light spring 29 secured at one end to a lug 30 on the abutment member and at the other end to a lug 31 formed on a suitable part of the three-armed lever.

An apertured ear 32 is formed integral with or secured to the upper part of the swinging abutment member. A rod 33 hereinafter described passes through the aperture in the ear 32 and has a collar 34 secured to its outer end. 7

hen the rod 33 is moved by means hereinafter described it will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings and the aforesaid description that the swinging abutment member will occupy the position indicated by the broken line 35 in Figures 1 and 1. In this position, the abutment face let will contact with the swinging abutment member when the arm 12 is moved to the left in Figure 2. Naturally, this will cause the laterally extending arm 20 to throw the switch lever 25 and slow down the machine.

In the normal position of the switch operating mechanism, the depending arm 22 of the three-armed lever engages a stop 36 formed on the upstanding ear 7. A spring 37 holds the depending arm 22 against the stop 36. This prevents operation of the switch unless the laterally extending arm 20 is depressed and brings the three-armed lever back to its normal position after the abutment face 14 has been moved away from the swinging abutment member 28, allowing the switch to go back to its normal position to speed up the machine.

lVhile the member 11 has been referred to as a three-armed lever it is desired to point out this name is applied for identification purposes only. The lever 11 may assume any desired shape providing it acts as a support for the swinging abutment member 28 and has an actuating portion for the switch lever 25. The depending arm 22 may be entirely eliminated and the spring 37 and stop 36 situated in numerous other places and function in the same manner.

The cam 18 and circular disc 19 heretofore mentioned are secured to the cam shaft 38 by a set screw 39 to permit of adjustment of the cam for proper timing. It is to be understood that the cam shaft 38 is the conventional cam shaft extending the full length of a standard flat knitting machine and is driven in the usual manner and carries the usual cams for the narrowing and for numerous other operations in the functioning of the machine.

The rod ning to the n .rr wing chain 40 of the knitting machine. The narrowing chain or ack carries buttons 11 and is operated in the usual manner. The buttons 11 engage one of the usual levers 4-2, which is pivoted at 43 to the rod 414e, Eor normal operation of the machine the rod might be continuous with red However, at times it is desired to move the narrowing chain or jack by hand. lVhen this is done, the lever 45 is swung to he right in Figure 1 and the lever 42 is moved to the right, thus moving the rod 14 and in turn the swinging abutment member 28. When the machine is running under power and is stopped prior to turning the narrowing chain by hand there is no way of determining in whatposition the arm 12 of the cam roller lever will stop. If this arm should stop in the path of travel of the swinging abutment member and the lever 45 were then moved to the right, the mechanism would be strained or some parts would be broken. For this reason a flexible connection is provided between the rods 14 and 33.

forms pa rt of a connection run The rod 44 is secured in a sleeve 46 by a set screen 47. The short rod 33 enters the sleeve 46 and abuts the rod 44. A strong spring 48 extends from the set screw 47 to a set screw 49 which secures the collar 34 tothe rod 33. hen the rod 44 is moved to the right under normal operating conditions the spring 48 easily overcomes the spring 29 and moves the swinging abutment member in the path of the arm 12. However, if the arm 12 should be in the path of the swinging abutment member when the rod 44 is moved the spring 48 will stretch and no harm will be done.

The movement of the rod 44 by the narrowing chain also operates the usual mechanism for moving the cam shaft 38 longitudinally to throw the proper cams into engagement for the narrow'mg operation. The reference numeral designates the connection leading to this mechanism. As this mechanism is of the usual type and is well known it is not thought necessary to illustrate same.

In the normal operation of the machine at high speed, the parts would assume the full line positions illustrated in the figures of the drawings. As one of the buttons 41 of the narrowing chain 40 passes under the lever 42, it will move the swinging abutment member 28 by means of the heretofore described connections into the dotted line position 35. The cam 1.8 will then engage the cam roller 18 and the abutment face 14 will contact with the swinging abutment member 28 moving it to the left in Figure 2 and causing the laterally extending arm 20 to tirow the switch 26 and reduce the speed of the machine. The connection 50 through the usual mechanism will move the cam shaft to the left in Figure 1 and the cam roller will then rest on the disc 19 for one revolution of the cam shaft while the narrowing is taking place. hen the high spot on the cam is again reached the cam shaft will be moved to the left in Figure 1 and the cam roller will then move toward the low part of the cam and the machine will resume high speed.

By properly shaping the cam 18 and properly positioning it on the cam shaft, the turning of the switch may be accurately controlled. It will also be apparent that the cam shaft will not be advanced and retracted eX- cept when m ving at the slow or narrowing speed.

The cam shaft 38 will be advanced or moved to the narrowing position while the cam roller is on the high part of the cam 18 which is flush *ith the periphery of the disc 19. The cam shaft will make its one revolution and when the high part of the cam is again reached, the cam shaft will be retracted or moved back to its normal position and the switch will be immediately released as heretofore explained to permit the machine to move at high speed.

Numerous changes may be made in details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

2. A flat knitting machine having in combination, a cam shaft, a switch for controlling the speed of said machine, a cam roller lever, a cam roller carried by said cam roller lever, a cam on said cam shaft, means for urging said cant roller toward said cam, a lever mounted adjacent said cam roller lever, a swinging abutment member carried by said lever, and means controlled by the narrowing chain of said knitting machine to move said abutment member in the path of said cam roller lever so that said cam on said cam shaft will move said second mentioned lever to operate said switch.

3. A flat knitting machine having in combination, a cam shaft, a cam on said cam shaft, a circular disc on said cam shaft adjacent said cam, a switch for controlling the speed of said machine, a cam roller lever, a cam roller carried by said cam roller lever said cam roller being capable of moving from' the high part of said cam to said circular disc when said cam shaft is moved longitudinally, a lever mounted adjacent said cam roller lever, a swinging abutment member carried by said lever, and means for moving said abutment member in the path of said cam roller lever so that the cam on said cam shaft will cause said lever to operate said switch.

4. A fiat knitting machine having in com bination. a cam shaft, a switch for controlling the speed of said machine, a switch operating mechanism including a pair of levers, a swinging abutment member carried by one of said levers, a cam roller carried by the other of said levers, a narrowing chain, a lever adapted to be moved by a button on said narrowing chain, a connection between said lever and said swinging abutment member in abut-- ting relation to said cam roller lever for positioning said swinging abutment member,

and a cam on said cam shaft for operating said switch mechanism after said swinging abutmentmember has been positioned.

5. A fiat knitting machine having in combination, a cam shaft, a switch for controlling the speed of said machine, a switch operating mechanism including a pair of levers, a swinging abutment member carried by one of said levers, a cam roller carried by the other of said levers, a narrowing chain, a lever adapt ed to be moved by a button on said narrowing chain, a rod between said lever and said swinging abutment member for positioning said swinging abutment member in abutting relation to said cam roller lever, a flexible connection in said rod, and a cam on said cam shaft for operating said switch mechanism after said swinging abutment member has been positioned.

Signed at Weehawken in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey this 2nd day of May, 1931, A. D.

ROBERT REINER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,901,857. March 14, 1933.

ROfiERT REINER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring csrrection as follows: Page 3, lines 118 and 119, ciaim 4, strike cut the words "in abutting relation to said cam roller iever'" and insert the same after "membef' in line 120; and that the said Letters Patent sheuid be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the recerd of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th tiny of June, A. D. 1934.

Bryan M. Battey (Seat) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

